Teva gets FDA approval for easier-to-use inhaler

Teva says that the product differs from conventional metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) as it delivers medication via a breath-actuated MDI, eliminating the need for hand-breath coordination during inhalation.

QVAR RediHaler administers the same active drug ingredient found in QVAR (beclomethasone dipropionate HFA) Inhalation Aerosol with a different mode of delivery. In addition, QVAR RediHaler is designed to be used without shaking or priming.

"When working to manage asthma on a daily basis, proper administration of medication is of paramount importance," said Dr Warner Carr, associate medical director of Southern California research at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Southern California Medical Group. "However, research has indicated that approximately 76 percent of patients still struggle to use their MDI inhalers correctly, thus placing them at increased risk for asthma exacerbations.”

Tushar Shah, head of late stage development at Teva, added: "It's important that we uncover new opportunities to take longstanding, clinically effective medications, such as QVAR, and incorporate them into device technologies that may help address key ongoing issues for patients, including inhaler technique."

Teva plans to discontinue sales of the current QVAR MDI formulation upon the launch of QVAR RediHaler in the first quarter of 2018.